Llangollen's Old Railway Trail Parkrun is holding the latest of its runs tomorrow, (Monday, New Year's Day) morning.
It starts at 9am from the health centre in Bishops Walk.
The event is free to enter but those taking part must register before going along.
* For more details go to the parkrun webpage at: home | Old Railway Trail parkrun, Llangollen | Old Railway Trail parkrun, Llangollen
* A diagrammatic course map.
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To allow resurfacing work by the county council, East Parade Street and Parade Street, Llangollen, will be closed to traffic on the Sundays, January 21, January 28 and February 4.
The signposted alternative route will be via Market
Street, Berwyn Street and Castle Street.
Latest local roadworks update from Denbighshire County Council is:
JUNC VICARAGE ROAD - JUNC FRON CASTELL FRON BACHE 02/01/2024 26/01/2024 Gwaith Nwy / Gas Works WALES & WEST (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure
CHURCH STREET (46700268) LLANGOLLEN, DENBIGHSHIRE CHURCH STREET 09/01/2024 09/01/2024 Gwaith Dwr / Water Works MORRISON UTILITY SERVICES LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure
OUTSIDE ARMSTRONG TOWERS BIRCH HILL 10/01/2024 12/01/2024 Gwaith Nwy / Gas Works WALES & WEST (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure
OUTSIDE GLANAFON ABBEY ROAD 12/01/2024 12/01/2024 Gwaith Trydanol / Electrical Works NETWORK PLUS (DCC) LLANGOLLEN
OUTSIDE ACTIVITY CENTRE, PARADE STREET LLANGOLLEN LL20 8RD CO ORDS: PARADE STREET 14/01/2024 14/01/2024 Gwaith ar Dwll Archwilio/ Man Hole Works ALUN GRIFFITHS (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure
Wrth / Nr Bryn Howel A539 LLANGOLLEN ROAD 17/01/2024 17/01/2024 Gwaith BT/ BT Works SUNBELT RENTALS (DCC) LLANGOLLEN
A539 JUNC HILL STREET - O/S NO. 4 VICARAGE ROAD 22/01/2024 02/02/2024 Gwaith Nwy / Gas Works WALES & WEST (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure
A group of young rangers visited the North East
Wales Search and Rescue (NEWSAR) at their base in Loggerheads.
NEWSAR is a volunteer Search and Rescue (Mountain
Rescue) Organisation, operating mainly across Flintshire, Denbighshire,
Wrexham and parts of Conwy and Powys.
Volunteers taught the young rangers some
life-saving first aid and gave the group a tour of the land rovers and their
new search response vehicle.
The youngsters even got to meet Chloe, the
SARDA search dog, and Dave her handler, showing off their combined skills by
sniffing out a hiding ranger.
* For more information abut NEWSAR please visit http://www.newsar.org.uk
If you are between the ages of 11-17 and interested in joining Young Rangers, drop an email to Imogen at imogen.hammond@denbighshire.gov.uk for the Clwydian Range or Sam at sam.langdon@denbighshire.gov.uk for the Dee Valley.
A £400,000 project to upgrade gas pipes in Llangollen will get underway in the new year, Denbighshire Free Press has reported.
Wales & West Utilities will shortly start work in the Bache Mill Road area of the town.
* For the full story go to: https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/24005604.llangollen-400-000-will-upgrade-gas-network-town/?ref=socialflow&fbclid=IwAR0_rMx-n-tGpoOka65wpmxZSH3wVn6p9K29BgIeXsTBrw7vh9M6l2_z
* Above and below: Diners enjoy the lunch served at the Community Hall.
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Llangollen Community Christmas Lunch saw a total of 72 turkey meals served up on the big day.
Of those prepared and served 63 were enjoyed in a specially-decorated St Collen's Community Hall and nine were delivered by volunteer drivers to people in their homes.
Of the diners in the hall were 13 children, the youngest of whom was spending her first Christmas having been born just eight months ago.
Organiser Mike Connolly said: "A terrific team of helpers worked right through from 11am to keep our guests looked after really well.
"Among the many generous supporters of the lunch were Llangollen Town Council, St Collen’s Church, Llangollen’s men’s five-a-side football team, Liberty Tavern, S & G Bistro, Ruth Owen, Lynne Williams, Suzi Moore and others who called in on Christmas morning to deliver gifts and their good wishes.
"My wife Val and myself want to express our particular thanks to Ian Wright, who with his grand-daughter Millie Davies, spent several hours on Christmas Eve setting up and dressing the tables, and to the stars of the kitchen who pulled all the food together. Our suited-n-booted chef was Scott very ably assisted by Jess Hart.
"Thanks also to Elizabeth (Betty) Johnson and her late husband Peter for setting up this wonderful event and handing the baton over to Val and I some years ago."
A 1950s postcard found by a Llangollen man in a vintage shop 11,000 miles away in New Zealand has revived memories of the early days of the town’s International Musical Eisteddfod.
Darren Preston, who owns Books Llangollen in Castle Street, has been on holiday over there and spotted the postcard while browsing at the store in the town of Murchison on the country’s South Island.
The sharp black and white image shows a young lady, in
traditional Welsh costume of high hat and apron, posing for the camera on what looks like the original eisteddfod field with a row of tents in the background.
And now Darren, who previously owned Maxine's cafe in the
building below his current bookshop from 1991, would love to try and find out
who she is.
He said “I got it from a shop named Dust & Rust. The
guy there said it came in with some old postcards.
“The back of the photo could say ‘July 1951’ but it was
written in 1952.
“It also looks like someone in Christchurch was going to
do some research on it.”
Doing research of his own Darren has been looking at an
online copy of a famous British Pathe News cine film showing the 1952
eisteddfod.
He believes that the badge being worn by the girl in the
photo is the same as ones as those seen on the capes of three other girls in
one of the sequences.
Karen
Price,
an eisteddfod board trustee, has seen a copy of the picture Darren discovered and
reckons a rare memento of the eisteddfod’s early days has come to light.
She said: “It’s a great find on the part of Darren and
it’s incredible that someone from Llangollen has found it all the way over on
the other side of the world.
“It also shows the truly international reach the festival
has had over so many years.
“Like Darren we’d be fascinated to discover who the young
lady is and, if we can locate her, we’d be delighted to welcome her back to
next year’s eisteddfod.”
* If you have any idea on who the mystery girl might be, please call: 01978 862000.
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Denbighshire Free Press is highlighting how a champion strongwoman is celebrating the overwhelming success of her new gym in Llangollen.
In 2021, Jemma 'Stubbs' Stubbington became the first Welsh woman to win the title of Britain’s Strongest Woman.
She has recently opened the new Stubbs Strength and Performance Centre at Mile End Mill on the outskirts of town.
* For the full story, see: https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/23999958.new-llangollen-gym-going-strength-strength/?ref=socialflow&fbclid=IwAR2V3Q2N0dvj7Mcg3JxdnUd3HbV_0FSQC0itaxuz1AVOvpqHjQ3u_pjWagM
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Latest local roadworks alert from one.network is:
|
Brook
Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 27 December - 27 December Roadworks, Delays unlikely Traffic management:
Traffic control (give & take) Description: Reinstatement
Consequential Damage Job in Carriageway (10mm Bitmac (Tarmac) ) Works location:
BROOK STREET Public facing description:
one.network has automatically assigned a category of Unclassified works to
this Works based on the information available. Please note: Works
Descriptions are not published by Hafren Dyfrdwy. Responsibility for works:
Hafren Dyfrdwy Current status:
Planned work about to start Works reference: ZU0028102/000013542063 |
* One of the packed houses for The Snowman Concerts.
There was packed houses, standing ovations and plenty of Christmas cheer at Llangollen Pavilion as the NEW Sinfonia orchestra, in partnership with the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, staged their two sell-out Christmas concerts yesterday (Saturday).
The shows, which underlined the Eisteddfod's message of peace and reconciliation, culminated with a showing of the iconic Christmas film The Snowman accompanied by the orchestra, won plaudits from a hugely appreciative audience already in the Christmas mood.
Local choir NEW Voices, a local community ensemble led by conductor Robert Guy and a guesting Ukrainian refugee Polina Horelova, were augmented by outstanding soprano Kryststyna Makar.
In a surprise twist NEW Sinfonia were conducted at one point by Santa himself - a very close friend of Llangollen town crier Austin "Chem" Cheminais - for Sleigh Ride.
Both concerts were sold out
weeks ago and raised money for Wrexham-based refugee charity UareUK and Llangollen Eisteddfod itself.
Earlier in the day UareUk also hosted a Breakfast with Santa event at the Pavilion for dozens of refugees who enjoyed watching the concerts' dress rehearsal.
NEW Sinfonia also featured renowned percussionist and new artistic director of the Eisteddfod, Dave Danford.
Later, Robert Guy, co-founder and conductor of NEW Sinfonia, said: "It was amazing to bring over 1,000 people to Llangollen - just days before Christmas.
"People came from across North Wales and the borders for our amazing family event.
"It was another great opportunity to showcase our outstanding, professional orchestra together with our community choir who sang beautifully. It was also important to us that Polina and Kryststyna led us so well.
"We also raised a lot of money for Wrexham-based charity UareUK, who organised a packed breakfast of refugees and their families who loved the experience. It was the first time I have ever had my baton snatched from me mid-performance but Santa got a huge cheer."
David Hennigan, a board trustee at the Eisteddfod, said: "Our partnership with NEW Sinfonia delivered such an amazing experience for families just 36 hours before Christmas day itself.
"The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod was set up in 1947 to promote peace and reconciliation through song and these events delivered that ethos in spades.
"We'd like to thank everyone for their support in making this happen including all the volunteers from the Llangollen Eisteddfod and NEW Sinfonia for helping us put these brilliant events together."
NEW Sinfonia are now taking a well-earned rest after a sell-out Christmas Concert season but return for a New Year Gala Concert on Saturday, January 6 at St Giles' Church, Wrexham.
From January, the Universal Primary Free School Meals scheme is to be rolled out ahead of schedule to all year 5 and 6 pupils in Denbighshire, meaning every primary school pupil in Denbighshire can now have a free school meal.
In December 2021, Welsh Government (WG) announced plans to offer free meals to all primary school pupils. Since September 2022, the Universal Primary Free School Meals (UPFSM) offer in Denbighshire has been successfully rolled out from Reception to Year 4.
Following a further round of kitchen and dining refurbishments across the County, the UPFSM offer will be rolled out earlier than scheduled to Year 5 and 6 pupils from 8th January, 2024.
From the start of the Spring term all primary pupils in Denbighshire schools will be asked on a daily basis whether or not they would like to access a school meal. They will be able to opt in or out without having to pre book and the meal will be provided free of charge. If pupils are already in receipt of free school meals and/or any other associated benefits, these will not be impacted.
Councillor Gill German, Lead Member for Education, Children and Families said: “It is fantastic that with this funding, along with the dedication of our staff and support from local contractors, the Authority is able to rollout the Universal Primary Free School Meal offer earlier than originally scheduled for all pupils up to Year 6.
"School meals are essential to a child’s learning and development and I am so very pleased that now every primary school pupil within Denbighshire will have the offer of a free school meal.”
* Further information is available on the Denbighshire website www.denbighshire.gov.uk/education.
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Cytun - Churches Together in Llangollen - says it wishes everyone a very happy Christmas season and welcomes you to any of its churches' Christmas celebrations.
Details of its various services can be found on the churches' individual websites or at the churches themselves.
Llangollen Museum is one of only two projects in Wales to receive a share of the UK government’s Community Ownership Fund.
It has been awarded £146,580 to undergo essential renovations to make it available for future generations to enjoy.
Once completed, the building will reopen as a museum and art gallery offering a range of educational programmes for schools and educational institutions.
Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes described the award as "very good news for the museum and for Llangollen."
A UK Government’s Levelling Up funded (LUF) project to further develop the Wenffrwd Nature Reserve has completed the construction of a path to connect the reserve to Llangollen Canal towpath.
During the first round of LUF, the Council was
successful in its joint application with Wrexham County Borough Council for the
Clwyd South Constituency, which was supported by Simon Baynes MP. Denbighshire
secured £3.8 million to invest in the communities of Llangollen, Llantysilio,
Corwen and surrounding areas.
Visitors can now benefit from safer access to the
World Heritage Site and surrounding countryside, including the Panorama walk
and Eglwyseg, which was previously only accessible by crossing a main road.
The new path zig zags up the canal embankment from
the woodland in Wenffrwd and is suitable for pedestrians, bikes, and mobility
scooters that are designed for the countryside. The nature reserve is
also linked to Llangollen along the new track on the disused railway line which
starts at Llangollen Health Centre.
The work was carried out by OBR Construction, and
was completed in November, 2023.
Cllr Win Mullen-James, Lead Member for Local
Development and Planning, said: “I am delighted to see that the new path
connecting the Wenffrwd Nature Reserve has now been completed, providing a
safer and more convenient route for visitors to and from the reserve.
“I am also pleased to hear that an Old Railway
Trail Park Run has been established and is regularly seeing around 100
participants as well as 15 – 20 volunteers taking part each week. This is a
fantastic initiative that has transpired as a result of the great work being
done at help improve this wonderful World Heritage Site.”
Cllr Jason McLellan, Council Leader and Lead Member
for Economic Growth and Tackling Deprivation, said: “It’s great to see that
improvement works at Wenffrwd Nature Reserve are progressing and that this
stage of the project has now been completed.
“The area already boasts a number of walking routes
with fantastic views across the River Dee and Eglwyseg that are popular with
both locals and tourists. The works taking place as part of this project will
help to enhance the Wenffrwd Nature Reserve for all who visit.”
Further Levelling Up funded work to be done at
Wenffrwd Nature Reserve includes building some child-friendly cycle challenges
adjacent to the paths, and improving the appearance and functionality of the
old compound, with a view to being able to hold community activities here in
the future. The estimated timescale for these works is March 2024.
* You can find out more about this project on the Denbighshire County Council website: https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/community-and-living/community-development/levelling-up-fund/wenffrwd/wenffrwd.aspx
Latest information for Llangollen people from the South Denbighshire Community Partnership is:
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They followed his cortege - which included a motorcycle sidecar hearse - as it made its way along the A5 and through Llangollen to the funeral at Pentrebychan Crematorium.
The family had asked on social media for as many bikers to attend his final ride as possible.
* A full tribute to Mr Thomas appeared in the Denbighshire Free Press: Corwen man killed in crash in Llangollen will ‘never be forgotten’ | Denbighshire Free Press
* County Hall in Ruthin.
Denbighshire County Council faces a funding gap of almost £18m after receiving its 2024/25 provisional funding settlement from Welsh Government yesterday (Wednesday).
And its finance leader warns this will have to be bridged through savings and efficiencies, increasing charges for services, increases in Council Tax or by reducing or cutting services
The government announcement indicates Denbighshire’s
budget will go up by £6.7 million in cash terms, an increase of 3.6% for the
forthcoming financial year, compared with the current year 2023/24.
The latest estimate is that delivering day to day services which range from providing care to the most vulnerable in our communities, maintaining our roads, collection of household waste and provision of education to our learners in the county’s schools, in 2024/25 will cost an additional £24.5m compared with this year.
This is due to increases in demand
for services and the ongoing impact that high levels of inflation continue to
have on the costs of delivering services.
Council Leader, Councillor Jason McLellan,
said “The Council has been developing its budget for the next financial year
for many months. An increase of 3% in funding from Welsh Government had been
used in forecasts to date, whilst the increase above our planning assumption is
welcomed and is positive, it does not materially change the unprecedented
financial challenge we face. All options to reduce costs across the authority
continue to be explored.”
Councillor Gwyneth Ellis, Lead Member for
Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets, added, “Challenging times lie ahead
for us as a Council as we, like local authorities throughout Wales, face
unprecedented continuing pressure on our budget due to rising costs and a
sustained increase in demand for services.
“Despite an expected increase in funding of £6.7m (3.6%) by Welsh Government, this still leaves a funding gap of £17.8m. The settlement is not sufficient to meet the cost pressures we are facing. Like Local Authorities across Wales, the Council has a statutory duty to set a balanced budget and must do so through finding savings and efficiencies, increasing charges for services, increases in Council Tax or by reducing or cutting services."
Denbighshire County Council’s cabinet has approved the proposal to reduce library and One Stop Shop opening hours by 40%, together with associated savings in other parts of the service, to make an expected saving of £360,000.
Following a strong response to the public consultation which saw over 4,500 residents voicing their opinions, the council amended the original proposal.
The revised proposal has taken account of the consultation responses and has adapted the proposed opening hours to ensure that more libraries are open to accommodate children after school and that most libraries are able to continue to open on Saturday mornings, says the council.
No Denbighshire libraries will have to close their doors, and all of them will remain partially open so that key services can continue to be available for residents, albeit at a reduced rate.
The financial challenge currently faced by the council is "unprecedented", and all services will be required to deliver significant savings to meet that challenge.
It is estimated that delivering day to day services – including social services, waste collection and schools, will cost an extra £24.5m due to price increases, inflation, and pressure on demand.
Council officers will now work with Library staff, unions and stakeholders to implement this decision.
Councillor Emrys Wynne, Lead Member for Welsh Language, Culture and Heritage said: “As a Council, we are saddened that we have had to approve this proposal, but this is the harsh reality of the current economic climate that we are facing. This is the hardest proposal I have ever had to bring forward to the Council for consideration and approval as the library service is used by thousands of Denbighshire residents each year.
"Although this decision means cuts in operating hours, it ensures that vital services continue in all Denbighshire libraries and One Stop Shops and that no library has to close its doors. The Council hopes it will be able to return to a full service in future when the economic climate is more favourable.
"This saving proposal is unfortunately one of the many proposals that the Council will have to consider within the next 12 months given the economic climate and budgetary pressures.”
Hundreds of delighted children from Llangollen's two junior schools enjoyed a special Christmas treat earlier this afternoon (Wednesday)
Town Council facilitator Charlie Jones had arranged for them to take in a seasonal screening of Christmas film The Grinch in the town hall.
As they filed into Centenary Square youngsters from Ysgol Bryn Collen and Ysgol Y Gwernant had the surprise of their lives when they were greeted by the reindeers of Christmas Farm and Sion Corn - all to the accompaniment of falling snow.
Over at the town hall when they had taken their seats there was another rousing welcome from Sion Corn and Ysgol Y Gwernant sang their Christmas song in Welsh.
On hand to give assistance with the children were 15 pupils from Ysgol Dinas Bran.
The event was jointly sponsored by Mega Electrics and GHP Legal.
According to North Wales Live, walkers have been given notice of the imminent closure of the world’s highest navigable aqueduct.
In the New Year, the spectacular crossing at Pontcysyllte is to shut for two-and-a-half months so it can be “dewatered”.
Visitors planning post-Christmas walks will have just seven days to blow away the cobwebs before maintenance starts on a four-mile stretch of the Llangollen Canal.
Water will be pumped from the canal to enable the structure to be inspected.
* For the full story, see: North Wales 'Stream in the Sky' aqueduct facing lengthy closure - North Wales Live (dailypost.co.uk)
* Sir Tom Jones will appear at the Eisteddfod next July.
The Senedd has heard that Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is the perfect example of promoting Wales as a welcoming country.
Speaking in the chamber last week, Clwyd South MS Ken Skates – a vice president of the world-renowned event – asked Minister for Social Justice Jane Hutt for a progress report on the Welsh Government’s plans to make Wales a ‘nation of sanctuary’.
Labour Ministers produced the blueprint for how Wales will support refugees and asylum seekers over the next few years.
Ms Hutt said the Welsh Government’s 2023 report – ‘which demonstrates continued good progress’ – will be published soon.
Mr Skates said: “I very much look forward to that report. Most of us wish to promote Wales as a nation of sanctuary to people around the world, and there are few better ways of doing this than through events such as the International Eisteddfod that takes place annually in Llangollen.
“This year there was a significant presence by Ukrainian refugees who have been given invaluable help by this Welsh Labour Government and by local residents.
“Minister, would you agree that Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, along with other outward-looking international events, are ideal for promoting Wales as a welcoming nation?”
The Minister responded: “Thank you for that important question, and also sharing with us again the importance of the Llangollen International Eisteddfod.
“We fundamentally believe that the support from Welsh people for homes sponsorship, volunteering, donations to refugee crisis appeals – they’re just showing that becoming a nation of sanctuary is what people are keen to do. But it's important to promote that internationally.
“Major events are an excellent way of doing that, so Welsh Government is pleased to be supporting the International Eisteddfod. But can I just also say, for the record, that the Welsh Government will be represented at the global refugee forum in Geneva, alongside the UK delegation, communicating our Nation of Sanctuary vision and pledging that we'll continue along the path, encouraging other nations to work towards a shared goal.”
Earlier this month Mr Skates announced one of the biggest coups in the International Eisteddfod’s history when Sir Tom Jones was unveiled as the headline act for next year’s event.
The Welsh icon will top the billing at the 2024 showpiece, which also includes Katherine Jenkins, Manic Street Preachers, Gregory Porter, Madness, Kaiser Chiefs and Paloma Faith.
Mr Skates said: “I was immensely proud to officially announce that Sir Tom Jones will be headlining next year’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.
“I’m a proud vice president of the Eisteddfod, so I was thrilled to represent Clwyd South at the press conference when Katherine Jenkins and Gregory Porter were also announced to add even more stardust to an extremely exciting line-up for the 2024 event.
“Huge credit must go to the board for pulling together so many big names. The event injects millions of pounds into the local economy every year, and after a difficult few years next summer’s showpiece is set to be one of the best Eisteddfods yet.”
Board member Dave Hennigan said: “We are absolutely delighted and we’d like to thank Ken for his extraordinary and valued support, not just now but during times of financial difficulty too.
“We’re really pleased that, after many years of trying, Sir Tom Jones will be coming to Llangollen as part of our exciting programme.”
* Akaash Das, 14, and Daniel Grove, 15, who are members of the choir and students at Oswestry School.
A choir set to sing at next year's Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is selling limited edition calendars this Christmas with proceeds being donated to Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith children’s hospices.
Wrexham-based Johns’ Boys Male Chorus became semi-finalists of Britain’s Got Talent earlier this year after wowing the judges with their incredible voices, getting high praise from Simon Cowell who called them a “beautiful choir”.
They have now released
a special calendar for 2024 showing pictures from theirs amazing last 12
months.
The choir will make their eisteddfod appearance on Wednesday July 3 as part of the a celebration of Welsh music entitled Wales Welcomes the World also featuring Welsh folk band Calan and royal harpist Alis Huws.
The choir was formed in 2016 by Aled Phillips and has several members of staff and pupils from Oswestry School, where Aled is the director of music.
“We are delighted to
be able to release this calendar and raise money for such an important local
charity,” said Aled.
“The calendar is a
collection of pictures from memorable moments from the last year, and there have
been quite a few.
“Please pick one up
and help raise money to support local children and families.”
Oswestry School’s headteacher Peter Middlewood said: “We are so proud of all the members of the
choir and it is great to see different generations come together to sing.
“We can’t wait to see
what they have in store for the future.”
Fundraiser Cat
Dowdeswell said: “The John’s Boys Male Chorus have been amazing supporters of
Hope House over the years and we are so grateful for everything they do to raise
money.
“This calendar is a
perfect Christmas gift for any fans of the choir, so make sure you pick up a
copy while they are still available.
“Every calendar will
see a donation made to support seriously ill local children this festive
season. Thank you so much to everyone at the choir for choosing to support Hope
House and Tŷ Gobaith once again.”
* The calendars are on sale for £9.99 with all proceeds being split between Hope House Children’s Hospice and Andy’s Club. You can get your calendar at www.tickettailor.com/events/johnsboys/store
